Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-23


on Flro Department was held last night at
7:S0 o'clock 10 continue the investigation
Of charges against certain menbers OF the
department. Present. Messrs. Kaufman
tchairmaDh Page, Crump, Murphy, Lange,
Davis, and Chief Fuqua. Mr.. Parrish was
confined 10 his bed by Illness.
COUNSEL.
As soon as the committee were called. TO
order MT. Page moved that the committee
allow any man against whom charges rested
TO have counsel 10 represent nm II desired.
Nj. Page did not think II made any dilie-
renee a. far as the committees dealing with
the case went, for as much protection was
thrown around the m"n without counsel rs
II the " hole lar OF Richmond were AZ their
backs; but il counsel were not admitted
outsiders would be apt 10 think the men
were beng denIed their constitutional
rights. and that the committee were acting
barshly and tyIannically.
DEBATE.
Mr.. Lange though, the admission OF
counsel now unjust TO those whose eases
had been disposed Of
Mr.. Crump believed il would be better
10 ask when any ease was taken up II the
party wished counsel, and il be did, tneU
tie committee would decide whether toe
ease was Of sufficient magnitude to call
for il.
MP. EAUFMhN'S OPINION.
Mr.. kaufmln said the disposition OF the
charges would only lie affected by the evi-
dtuce adduccd before the committee. No
attorney can say "a well as the evidence
whether a man is guilty or not guilty, com
pctent or not competent.
Mr.. Page did rot desire TO have gene
raj rule laid down 70 admit cOunsel, eX.
cept In the way Mr. Crump suggested. tie
Therefore withdrew his motion until such
case came up.
TIE inVe>usation was then proceeded
with.
MR.. MYERS CASE.
The continued case Of W. +. Mycr,
charged iih diSordery conduct in front
Of the engine-hOuse, was first taken up.
One m,mber moved that Myer be eX-
PEELED; another did not think the charge
sufficiently grave for this, and moved that
he be suspended for two months.
On a call Of the roll tie vote resulted,
and as there seemed no prospect OF change
in any memheT's opinion, the case was post
pOned until the 29th-the monthly meeting
OF The committee.
CAPTAIN SNEAD.
The case OF Captain +. T. Snead, Second
Assistant Engineer OF the department,
who was charged with general incOmpe-
ttncy Uhc specifications have been publish.
ca IN this paper, was next taken up.
A. soon a. the specifications were Ield
Captain SHead presented a paper askiug
tlat la ali,geI snuucet Ia rapro.aut
him.
The petition stated that he bad spent s.X-
teen years Of his lie in the service OF thr
department; that he WAS the third officer
Of the department, and might at any tine
be- required 10 act a, il, chef and head. l.
further says:
Il ,olemnly declare that my defence to
every one OF tie charge, is perfect, and
must, il adequately Presented. prove salts.
factory to every unprejudiced mind; and
think ! may say if that defence can be
| fully brought out it will clearly appear that
10 prefer the charges was a grave mistake,
and to convict me upon them would be
great injustice.
EEy. CRUMP's RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Crump offered the following resolu-
| ton:
Rosolued, That 1t is the sense OF this
| committee that upon application by men,
Ter, OF tie department summoned before
! the comnlttce upon charges that they be-
| allowed 10 have counsel, the committee
| should decide such question upon the
| character Of TIE charges, the position Of ;he
member of The department, and other con-
sideratioEs in each case. and no general
rule can be laid down upon tue subject.
JfAlJ,fH flIpf cousIQgrtns tHp frrpyifX
Of the charges against Captain Snead, in.
yClyiIg rs efficiency 10 serve IN the de-
pa-tment At an. and TIE fact OF his long ST.
vice IN the department and hi- present high
position in H., be b. permitted 10 be accom-
paniCd Ly counsel in the investigation OF
the charges pending against him, the in
yestigstiun to bc wholly under the control
OF the committee, and the cOunseis con
~ ciiOn with il and his latitude IN question.
ipg witnesses 10 bee under the direction Oi
The committee duing the whole inyeslIya.
tiOn.
CITY ATTORNEY.
Mr. Davis offered the following amend
ment
ReSoLed tr'hfr Tha' IN this ease the CITY
Attorney be requested to appear on behalf
OF the committee.
Mr. Crump accepted the amendment,
and the resolutions ~ amended were
adopted.
A. the City Attorney (Mr. &. V. Mere.
dith) was not present, the ease waN post.
pOhed until the 10Th.
MR.. GAYLE's CASE.
The remaining case before the committee
was that Of NJ. W. Gayle, runner OF
steamer No. 3. charged with using Ian
a. a ha
Fire Committee, especially it, chairman,
unbecomiug a member Of the department.
The resignation Of Mr.. Gayle, which had
been received, was laid before the commit.
tee.
MIR. kaufman said he was opposed TO a..
cepting the resignation Of a man who stood
as Mr. Gayle did before the committee. II"
favored expulsion from the 1T OF June
Mr. Gayle. he said, had made personal
and political matter OF the case and had IN
the public pres, attacked and threatened
the committee. Furthermore, he had not
come 10 answer the charges preferred
against him, and this vas proof OF hi,
guilt. He did not know Mr.. Gayle per
>onally. but he was not in favor OF retain
iue such man in the service.
AIr. Davis said the only charge before the
committee was that OF speaking about the
excuse committee. On that charge he wa,
not willing to vote for expulsion.
EXPELLED.
Mr.. Crump offered the following resOu.
ton, which was adopted
ReSOired, That inasmuch as Mr.. Gayle,
while stil a member OF the department,
with his resignation in the hands OF officers
OF the department, but not yet laid before
the committee, has failed to appear to an.
swer charges preferred against him, and
has been guilty, from statements made
before the committee, OF acts Of gross insub.
ordination, be be discharged from the de.
partment, 10 take effect at once.
RESIGNATION.
The resignation OF n. f.. IIirsbberg, run
ner Of steamer No. 2. was presented and
accepted.
The committee next went into the con-
,ideIation Of matters Of no public interest,
and at late hour adjourned.